Echinacea plant named ‘White Mist’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘White Mist’, particularly distinguished by white-colored ray florets, floriferous, compact habit, healthy, abundant foliage, and good mildew resistance, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘White Mist’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘White Mist’. The new cultivaroriginated from an open pollination in 2005 in a nursery location inHillegom, The Netherlands between unknown male and female Echinaceaplants. The nursery location was densely populated with Echinaceapurpurea, Echinacea paradoxa and Echinacea hybrids.

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the open pollinationin 2007 in Hillegom, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the newEchinacea by in vitro propagation in a controlled environment inHillegom, The Netherlands since the summer of 2008, has shown that theunique features of the Echinacea are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Hillegom, The Netherlands:

-   -   1. White-colored ray florets;    -   2. Floriferous;    -   3. Compact habit;    -   4. Healthy, abundant foliage; and    -   5. Good mildew resistance.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Matthew Saul’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,652. However, in side by side comparisons in Hillegom, TheNetherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘White Mist’ differ from plantsof ‘Matthew Saul’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more floriferous than plants        of ‘Matthew Saul’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different        from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’;    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color different        from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’; and    -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have longer ray florets than        plants of ‘Matthew Saul’

In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘White Mist’ are similar to‘Amber Mist’, pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/592,652.However, in side by side comparisons in Hillegom, The Netherlands,plants of the new cultivar ‘White Mist’ differ from plants of ‘AmberMist’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘White Mist’. Theplant was field grown for approximately 1 year in Hillegom, TheNetherlands in an outdoor nursery location. Plants were transplantedinto a one-gallon container for photography purposes.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘White Mist’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘White Mist’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The data which define these characteristics were collectedfrom asexual reproductions carried out in Hillegom, The Netherlands. Theplant history was taken in August 2009 on 1-year-old field grown plantswhich were planted and grown outdoors in daytime temperatures between14° C. and 28° C. and nighttime temperatures between 5° C. and 18° C. Nopinching, growth retardants or photoperiodic treatments were used.Observations were made when the plants were in natural daylightconditions.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida cultivar ‘White Mist’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unknown Echinacea sp.        -   Male parent.—Unknown Echinacea sp.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are            possible.        -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at            14° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately            30 days at 14° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, poorly branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 20 weeks from a rooted            tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 1 gallon container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Upright, narrow            inverted triangle, herbaceous perennial.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous, approximately 17 cm per            month in spring.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in            mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures            up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 49.1 cm. Width: Approximately 43.6 cm.        -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow            from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately            14.        -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect, 5° angle            from vertical. Shape: Rounded. Length to base of            inflorescence: Approximately 34.8 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 5.2 cm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with            short strigose hairs. Length of pubescence: Approximately            0.3 mm. Color of pubescence: 157D. Color of young and mature            stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.            Shape: Narrowly ovate, slightly carinate. Margin: Entire,            very slightly undulate. Apex: Acute to long acute. Base:            Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 10.4 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            4.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Slightly            glossy, moderately to densely pubescent with short strigose            hairs. Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.3 mm. Color of            pubescence: 157D. Color of upper surface of young foliage:            139A with 137A and venation of 144C. Color of lower surface            of young foliage: 137B with venation of 144C. Color of upper            surface of mature foliage: N137A with venation of 144C.            Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 147B with venation            of 144C.        -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 2.1 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Height: Approximately            4.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Glossy, sparsely covered with very short strigose            hairs. Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.2 mm. Color of            pubescence: Closest to 157D. Color of upper and lower            surfaces: 144B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘White Mist’ continuously flowers from            early July to mid-September in The Netherlands.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 14 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:            Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:            Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 14. Height:            Approximately 7.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 12.2 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 11.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Texture: Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs.            Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.3 mm. Color of            pubescence: 157D. Color: 144B.        -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Shape: Flattened            globular with immature ray florets at approximately a 45°            angle from horizontal. Length: Approximately 2.4 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.7 cm. Color: 145A to 145B with a            center of 143A to 144A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 28.            Arrangement: Imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect:            Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly            elliptic to linear. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Emarginate. Base: Cuneate. Length: Approximately 4.8 cm.            Width: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:            Smooth, slightly ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower            surface: Smooth, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper            surface when first open: 155A with base of 145A to 145B.            Color of lower surface when first open: 155A with base and            tip of 145A to 145B. Color of upper surface when fully open:            157B to 157C with base of 145A to 145B. Color of lower            surface when fully open: 145D with base and tip of 145A.        -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 4.4 cm. Quantity            per inflorescence: Approximately 360. Arrangement: Spirally            arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin            of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused            into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper            surface when first and fully open: 144A. Color of lower            surface when first and fully open: 144B.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.8 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Color: NN155B.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 48.            Arrangement: In a three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, slightly curved towards            the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.            Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.5 mm.            Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of            lower or outer surface: Glabrous with margins moderately to            densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Length of            pubescence: Approximately 0.3 mm. Color of pubescence: 157D.            Color of upper surface: 137B. Color of lower surface: 137A.        -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc: 360. Shape:            Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous.            Color: Apex of N25A with mid-section of 143B and base of            144D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,            basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther            color: 200A to 202A. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Filament color: 145C. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant.            Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only.            Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately            1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: 151B to 151C.            Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: 151B. Ovary            color: 145C to 145D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Good mildew resistance. No particular    resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to    date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘White Mist’,substantially as herein shown and described.